Automatic train-pipe coupling.



T. RBROWN. AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1h 1913.

Patentd Apr. 23,1918.

2 SHEETS- SHEET I.

WITNESSES T. R. BROWN.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING. APPLICATION man OCT. n. 1913.

- Patentefl S 0E23. 1918.

WITNESSES 4L Q, P

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THOMAS n. :enown, or SPARKILL, new YQnK; Assrenon 'ro rnn WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, or wrmvrnnnine, PENNSYLVANIA, A oonronnrroiv on PENN- SYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Patented Apr. 23, 1min.

Application filed October 11, 1913. Serial No. 794,614.

1 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THonAs R. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sparkill, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Train-Pipe Couplings, of which improvement the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic train pipe couplings ofthe type having a valve mounted in the train pipe passage for con trolling the flow of fluid, and adapted to beopcned automatically when the two counterpart couplings are brought together in the act of coupling, and to be closed and prevent the escape of fluid when the coupling members are separated in uncoupling the cars or other vehicles. The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved coupling device of this character in which the valve may be automatically closed to prevent the escape of train pipe fluid when it is desired to separate the cars and at the time that the coupler is operated to release or uncouple the same, but will be held open to permit the discharge of a suiflcient quantity of train pipe fluid to cause the automatic application of the brakes in the usual manner, when the cars are accidentally pulled apart asin the case of a break-in-two of the train.

While my improvement is adapted to be supported between the cars by any suitable or preferred means, I have herein illustrated the same as applied in connection with a coupler of the closed or rigid lock type in which the train pipe passage and coupling is carried directly by and through the car coupler, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a horizontal. section of one form of coupler embodying my improvement; and Fig. 2, a horizontal. section of the two couplers coupled together, the rear portions being broken away.

According to the construction shown in the drawings, the coupler head, 12, is adapted to be pivotally connected to the draw bar, and is provided with the projecting end portion, 1.4:, arranged to engage the corre sponding portion of the counterpart cou pling by a lateral movement along a lon gitudinally inclined vertical plane, and then be rigidly locked together in such position by the cam lever, 16, bearing upon the face, 17, of the projection, 14. The locking lever may be operated by any suitable means, such as the rod, 19, connectedto the piston, 18, subject on one side to the spring, 20, normally holding the lever, 16, in locking posi tion, but adapted to be released by admitting fluid pressure through the passages, 22 and 23, to the cylinder on the other side oi the piston.

The train pipe section having passage, 2%, is mounted directly upon the coupler head, 12, and the forward end of the train pipe opening is provided with a gasket, 25, adapt ed to engage the corresponding gasket on the'other coupling, and make a fluid tight joint when the parts are coupled together. In the train pipe passage is mounted the valve, 26, having a stem, 28, extending out through the open end 01' the gasket, and adapted to engage the corresponding stem on the other coupler member and raise both valves from their seats when the couplers are brought together. The valves are normally closed by springs, 27, when the couplers are separated.

Asthus far described, the construction is substantially the same as that covered in the prior application 01: Doyle and Hedley, filed March 2 1, 1913, Serial No 7 56, 169.

For the purpose of holding the valve open temporarily in case the couplers are accidentally pulled apart, I provide a piston, 30, connected by a stem, 29, to the valve, 26, the piston operating in a cylinder in open communication with the train pipe line on one side through the port or passage, 31, while the release of fluid pressure from the cylinder on the opposite side of thepistonis controlled by a manually governed valve which is opened at the time it is desired. to release and separate the couplers, but is closed when the parts are coupled together.

This valve may be a small independent cook, 34, as indicated in Fig. 2, which may be opened by hand to release fluid from one side of the piston through passage, 32, or may be a valve, 3 1, operated by the plunger, 35, when fluid is admitted to the space, 22, port, 23, and the cylinder of piston, 18, as shown in Fig. l, for releasing the coupler.

When the parts are coupled together, the valves, 26, are automatically opened by the abutting stems, 28, the ports, 32, are closed, and fluid pressure from the train pipe communicates freely through the port, 31, in stem, 29, with the chamber at one side of the ioo piston, 30. As the piston, 30, fits rather loosely in its cylinder, the fluid pressure immediately equalizes around the same into the, chamber 011 the opposite side, and the piston thus remains normally balanced as to fluid pressure. If then the coupling members should be accidentally pulledflapart,.it

' will be seen that the valves, 26, of the conplers would remain open-temporarily until the pressure at the inner side of the piston, 30, leaks away sufliciently-to'permitthe slow closing of the valve. This will allow a sufficient amount of compressed fluid to escape from the'open ends ofthe train pipeto produce the usualautomatic applicationof the train brakes.

Then, however, it-is desired to uncouple and separate the cars, the smallvalve, 34, or an, controlling the port, 32, is opened, thereby releasing the 'fluid'from the chamber at the inner side of piston, 30, and thus causing the instant closing of the valve,'26, by means of: the train pipe pressure and the spring acting on the other side as soon as couplings are separated; This prevents the undesired discharge and'waste of compressed air fromthe train-pipe.

Whereymyimprovement is employed in connection with the type of coupler shown in Fig 1, in which thecoupler lock is operated by fluid pressure, thesame manual control which admits fluid pressure to release the look also effects the opening ofthe vent valve, 34, by the movementfof'plunger,35, andthereby releases fluid from the passage, 32, through exhaust port,"-36, to the atmosphere. l/Vhere' my improved trainpi-pe coupling is. supported in other ways,the cock, 34*,rnay be operated independently-or may beoperated by any desired formof coupler releasing 'mechanism. 7

Having now described my invention,-what I claim as newan'd desire tosecure byiLette'rs Patent is 1. In a coupling, the combination with a coupler head having a train pipe passage with an opening adapted to register with a COITGSPOHCllHg opening in a counterpart coupler, of a movable coupler lock, a fluid pres;

sure operated device for releasing said lock, t

a valve for controlling said passage, :1 piston attached to said valve, and means operated by the fluid pressure supplied to said releasingdevice for controlling the pressure acting on said piston.

2. Ina train pipe coupling, the combination with a coupler head having a train pipe passage with an opening adapted to register with a corresponding opening in a counterpart coupling, of an automatic valve mounted in said passage, a piston subject to fluid pressure and having a stem rigidly connected' to said valve, and means for controL ling the pressure on one side of said piston and thereby govern the closing movement of the valve.

3. In a train pipe coupling, the combination with a coupler head having a train pipe passage with an opening adapted to register with a corresponding opening in a counterpart coupling, of an automatic valve mounted in said passage, a piston rigidly connected to said valve and subject on its opposite sides to fluid pressure, and a valve for controlling the release of fluid from one side oi? said piston.

4. Ina train pipe coupling, the combination with a coupler head having a train pipe passage with an opening adapted to register with a corresponding opening in a counterpart coupling, of anautomatic valve mounted in said passage, and having a stem projecting through saidopening, a spring tending to close said valve, a piston, subject on one side'to fluid pressure, tending to hold said valve open, and means for controlling the release of fluid fromsaid piston.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand.

THOMAS R. BROWN.

Witnesses:

A. M. CLEMENTS, S. W.KEEFER.

Gopies of this patentmay be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents I Washington, D. 0." 

